Drain valve for bathtubs and the like



Jan. 16, 1934, c. F. scHuLTls 1,943,623

' DRAIN VALVE FOR BATHTUBS AND THE LIKE Filed June 17, 1931 I INVENTOR. ffiarics 1716c 71 a Zzzs A '1' TORNEYS,

Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES PAENT FFICE DRAIN VALVE FOR BATHTUBS AND THE LIKE

Application June 17, 1931. Serial No. 544,996

3 Claims.

This invention relating as indicated to drain valves for bath tubs and the like has specific reference to a form of valve construction which may be most readily assembled and disassembled 6 after installation without disturbing the conduits or the container such as a bath tub with which the same is associated.

It is well known to those familiar with the art that considerable difficulty has been experienced in the past in maintaining in repair drain valves for bath tubs and like installations where, for aesthetic purposes, it is essential that the operating mechanism be hidden in a wall or floor. Due to the fact that the bath tub or the like is permanently secured in place with the conduits leading therefrom rigidly attached thereto, it is necessary that the drain valve actuating mechanism be capable of replacement or repair without disturbing any of such permanent parts of the installation.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, the waste or draining orifice of bath tubs is in communication with an outlet conduit which merges with the outfall conduit leading from the overflow outlet of the tub. It has been common practice to position the manipulating mechanism for the drain valve in these two conduits, more particularly, the one leading from the overflow orifice. One objectionable feature of this type of design is that such mechanism has occupied such a considerable portion of the area in the overflow conduit that the effective cross-sectional area of such conduit has been reduced to the point where the safety factor of the same has been reduced to the danger point.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide apparatus of the above described character which shall have none of the enumerated disadvantages but which shall be simple in its construction and capable of efficiently carrying forth the purpose for which the same has been designed.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a bath tub showing associated therewith the apparatus comprising my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus illustrated'in Fig. 1 taken on a plane substantially indicated by the line 22; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 taken on planes substantially indicated by the lines 3-3.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing and more especially to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the apparatus comprising my invention is shown associated with a bath tub, a portion of which is diagrammatically illustrated at 1 although the apparatus may well be employed associated with any reservoir or the like having waste and overflow orifices. The drain orifice of the tub 1 is indicated generally at 2 and the' overflow is indicated generally at 3.

The drain orifice 2 has an outfall conduit 4 associated therewith and the overflow orifice 3 has an outfall conduit 5 associated therewith which merges with the conduit 4 in the fitting 6 from which the main outfall conduit '7 extends.

Around the drain orifice 2 is a coni-form valve seat 8 adapted to receive a complemental tapered Valve 9, which is provided' with a depending arm 10 carrying a tapered weight 11. The weight 11, when the valve 9 is in engagement with the seat 8, depends into a depression 12 in the coupling member 13, which depression has sloping sides for the purpose hereinafter more fully 5 explained. With the weight 11 threadably engaged and supported by the stem 10 of the valve 9 some means, of course, may be provided for locking these parts together. Loosely engaging the stem 10 is an eye bolt 14 to which isse- 9, cured one end of v a'coil spring 15. The coil spring 15 extends through the outfall conduit 4. and upwardly in the conduit 5.

The fitting 16, which is preferably threadably secured to the upper end of the waste conduit? 5, supports a trunnion member 17 and a supporting member 18. The supporting member 18 threadably receives a screw 19 which is utilized to secure a shield 20 over the drain orifice. The shield 20 may be provided with any suitable... form of perforations or apertures to allow the excess fluid in the tub 1 to overfiow into the conduit 5.

A shaft 21 is journaled in the bearing 17 and has a manipulating handle 22 removably secured to one end thereof. The opposite end of the shaft 21 is provided with a crank arm 23 to which is removably secured a threaded pin 24 by means of a cotter pin 25 and a washer 26.

' of the fitting 6.

The threaded pin .24 has secured thereto the upper end 27 of the coil spring 15.

The operation of the hereinbefore described valve manipulating apparatus is briefly as follows:

With the valve seated as illustrated in Fig. 1, the handle 22 will be rotated so that the arm 23 will pull upwards on the coil spring 15. The upward pull of the spring 15 will cause the weight 11 to move upwardly on the inclined wall 28 of the depression 12. This upward movement of the weight 11 will accordingly force the valve 9 off from its seat and maintain the same in the elevated position as long as the crank 23 maintains the upper end 27 of the coil spring 15 in elevated position. When the lever 22 is rotated in the opposite direction so that the coil spring 15 in the conduit 4 is moved to the right, the weight 11 will, under the influence of gravity, close the valve 9 onto its seat 8.

The assembly or disassembly of the component 'parts of the apparatus may be carried on as follows: The valve 9 will be assembled as illustrated in Fig. l and the coil spring 15 attached to the stem 10 thereof by means of the eye bolt 14. With these parts in such assembled relation, the coil spring is then introduced to the conduit 4 through the drain orifice 2. The spring 15 is pushed through the orifice 2 and the conduit 4 until the upper end, i. e., the screw pin 24 strikes the abutment 29 formed on the rear inner wall This boss will then deflect the spring upwardly into the conduit 5. The spring will be pushed upwardly until the valve 9 may assume a position such as is illustrated in Fig. 1. With the valve in such position, the screw pin 24 on the upper end of the coil spring 15 will be readily accessible through the overflow orifice 3. The pin 24 may be pulled out of the orifice 3 by virtue of the extension of the resilient coil spring 15. Whereupon, the crank 23 may be secured to such pin by inserting the cotter pin 25 after the washer 26 has been placed in position. The resiliency of the spring then enables the same to resume its normal length, which is the desired length for proper manipulation of the apparatus after the cover 20 has been secured in position.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that the entire operating mechanism for the drain valve, i. e., the coil spring 15, is inserted into the position which it will assume during use through the drain orifice 2 and that after the parts have been brought into proper position by so inserting the spring, the manipulating handle may be attached thereto without the employment of any special tools.

A further advantage of the above described construction resides in the fact that the coil spring need be only of a relatively small diameter so that the effective area of the outfall conduits 4 and 5 will not be materially reduced by its presence therein. Other advantages incidental to the employment of the apparatus comprising my invention are believed to be so apparent to those familiar with the art that a further enumeration thereof is unnecessary.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a bathtub and the like having drain and overflow orifices, of a branched outfall conduit associated with said orifices, a valve for closing said drain orifice, a manipulating handle mounted to extend into said overflow orifice, an

extensible coil spring operably connecting said handle and said valve, and an abutment on the' drain orifice, a weight associated with said valve for maintaining the same on said seat, a manipulating handle mounted to extend into said overflow orifice, an inclined surface on the inner periphery of the drain branch of said conduit adjacent said weight, and means operably connecting said handle and said valve for moving said weight onto said inclined surface and consequently said valve from its seat.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the

combination with a bathtub and the like having drain and overflow orifices, of a branched con- 1 2 manipulating handle mounted to extend into said overflow orifice, a depression on the inner periphery of the drain branch of said conduit into which said weight depends, and means operably connecting said handle and said valve for moving said weight out of said depression and said valvei off its seat.

CHARLES F. SCHULTIS. 

